My experience with breastfeeding was not a pleasant one, to say the least. From birth, my daughter had difficulty latching, while I, riddled by social-media-induced mom guilt, felt it absolutely necessary to give her breastmilk at any cost. I’d read that breast is best, but clearly my daughter did not agree. Now that my daughter is a toddler, and my breast pumps are safely collecting dust, I have some thoughts on my breastfeeding journey that I did not have before.
Shortly after returning home with my new baby, I made the decision to exclusively pump, and I considered several different points when making that decision:
- Pumping does not produce the same type of breastmilk that direct feeding does. Breastfeeding allows the breast milk to adapt to exactly what your baby needs, where expressed milk does not provide those same immune system benefits.
- Pumping is far more working-mom friendly. I knew I would be returning to my classroom soon, and that made pumping from the start a much more appealing option to me.
- Breastfeeding requires way less dishwashing. Between pump parts and bottle parts, our dish basin never stayed empty for long.
- Pumping allows my husband to take over the overnight feedings via bottle. This was a huge factor for me, an over-tired mama trying to recover from a major abdominal surgery.
Ultimately, either of these options- and even formula- can provide different benefits depending on what your family needs. In the process of making of that discovery, I tried three different breast pumps and experienced the pros and cons of each one.
What are the pros and cons of different breast pumps?
The first pump I tried, and the one that ended up getting the most use, was the Ameda Mya Joy.
Ameda Mya Joy
The pros: Ameda Mya is typically included in the list of breast pumps that are covered by insurance. This is a huge factor for a lot of women, especially with the rising cost of– well, everything. I used http://www.aeroflowbreastpumps.com to submit for a pump through my insurance company, and it arrived with a carrying case, extra flanges, extra tubing, milk collection cups, and the actual breast pump motor.
I used this pump the most because of the stronger suction. It had, by far, the best ability to actually collect breast milk, and the pump pieces came apart easily for cleaning. The motor controls were easy to figure out, and replacement pump parts were easy to find on Amazon.
The cons: Because it is not a portable pump, this one was also the loudest. It would definitely be audibly noticeable in public, and the bulkiness of the flanges makes it impossible to use without flashing everyone as well. It makes the perfect at-home pump, but does not work well for pumping on-the-go.
Overall, the Ameda Mya is comparable to the Spectra, both hospital-grade pumps, great for collecting more milk and strong enough to suction out clogs.
Click here to check out the Ameda Mya Joy using my amazon affiliate link.
Elvie Stride
The Elvie Stride was the second pump I used, and easily the most discreet.
The pros: The Elvie motor clips onto a belt loop or pocket, so it is super convenient for moms who have chores to do, meals to cook, or other hands-needed responsibilities. In a standard nursing bra, the Elvie cups were relatively natural-looking on me, which meant I was able to move around my house with the tubing hidden under my shirt while pumping. The motor is quiet, and the pump pieces are fairly large aka: easy to clean.
I can also speak to the customer service of Elvie. After opening my Elvie Stride, one of the flanges would not suction properly onto my skin, which we determined was because of a teeny dent in the collection cup. I emailed Elvie and they sent out a replacement immediately. Painless exchanges were much needed for this postpartum mama.
The cons: The Elvie stride is more expensive than a hospital grade pump, and in my case, it wasn’t completely covered by insurance. I received a discount on my Elvie pump, but even then, it was relatively pricey at around $200.
The suction and milk collection on the Elvie is also not as strong as a hospital-grade pump. I frequently found that after pumping with my Elvie, I would have to move my next pump session up by an hour. The milk collection cups don’t seem to hold as much, so it was a little more inconvenient to either leave my pump session unfinished or take the entire cup apart to empty it out and keep pumping. Plus, you do have to charge this pump beforehand- not great when you have new mom brain and forget to charge your pump. It usually lasted me about 4-5 thirty minute pumps before dying.
The final verdict for me was that the Elvie Stride made for a great breast pump during the day when I had chores to do and meals to cook. It didn’t quite do the job for my overnight sessions when my supply was greater.
Click here to check out the Elvie Stride using my amazon affiliate link.
Momcozy S9 Pro
The third and final pump I used was the Momcozy S9 Pro, the best option for a working mom.
The pros: The Momcozy pump was the quietest of all three I used. I frequently wore mine during zoom calls and meetings, and no one ever suspected a thing until they were within my personal space. It suctions really well- better than the Elvie but not as strong as a hospital-grade pump- and, dare I say, I often forgot I was wearing it. Comfort-wise, it was tricky to get situated in my bra but very comfortable once in there.
Replacement parts were easy to find on Amazon, and this pump did last the longest on one charge, even longer than my Ameda Mya. I usually got around 10 thirty-minute pumps before the motors would die.
The cons: Yet again, the Momcozy is not covered by insurance. I purchased mine out-of-pocket for $120, and it arrived with little protector bags and charging cables, but the pump pieces are all silicone and therefore a little trickier to clean. This one was also the most prone to leaking and spilling. Because it was so discreet, I often wouldn’t even notice this pump leaking until it was too late and I noticed my ruined shirt in the mirror- that happened several times.
I’d still recommend this pump for any moms who will need to go back to work. You can fit both cups and their motors in a lunchbox with room to spare for a few flattened bags of milk.
Click here to check out the Momcozy S9 Pro using my amazon affiliate link.
Which breast pump is best?
For the mom still in bed recovering: The Ameda Mya Joy or Spectra
For the “moving around the house” mom: The Elvie Stride
For the “back at work” mom: The Momcozy S9 Pro
Depending on financial situation, my recommendation is to aim for a combination of any two of these three pumps along with a set of spare parts for each. Choosing a breast pump can be both very important and very expensive, so whichever pump and schedule works best for you and your baby is the way to go, regardless of the pressures you may feel to pump a certain amount or breastfeed a certain way.
What other essential will I need to pump exclusively?
I recommend the following:
- Lansinoh Breastmilk Storage Bags- Available here
- Nursing Pads (Disposable)- Available here
- Nursing Pads (Reusable)- Available here
- Momcozy Nipple Cream- Available here
- Momcozy Heated Lactation Massager- Available here
- Breast Pump Bag- Available here
- Momcozy Pump Part Cleaner Kit- Available here
- Bravado Nursing Bras- Available here
- Hakaa Manual Breast Pump- Available here
- A snack to keep in your breast pump bag
- A photo of baby to help with letdown
- On-the-go hand sanitizer
- Extra tubing for your chosen pump(s)
- An ice pack for storing milk
Danielle Says... 